Fire extinguisher



April 3, 1928, 1,664,450

G. w. BURKE, JR

FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed March 29, 1923 Es i Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES GEORGE W. BURKE, JR., 015 DAYTON, OHIO.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Application filed March 29, 1923. Serial No. 628,490.

This invention relates to fire extinguishers of the single hand type, the extinguisher being adapted to be held in one hand of the operator and operated by the same hand, leaving the other hand free for controlling an airplane or other type of aircraft.

The invention is particularly designed for use on aircraft of all kinds where it is important and at times necessary for the a. i ator to have at least one hand free for unit-- trolling the aircraft. A fire extinguisher in order to be useful must. therefore be capa le of being held and operated by one hand.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a fire extinguishing container With a pistol hand grip having a cartridge chamber designed to receive an (.Xlilnsiupressure generating cartridge combined with free mechanism carried in the main by such hand grip, thereby enabling the fire extinguisher to be grasped in one hand and the. firing mechanism to be operated by a linger of the same hand.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved fire extinguishcr, showing the carttridge chamber and firing mechanism, partly in full and partly in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a cross section through the same taken diametrically of the cartridge chamber;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view looking toward the butt of the hand grip.

In the drawings 1 designates a container for any fire extinguishing fluid or liquid or other material, said container being preferably in the shape of a barrel or cylinder of any required capacity. Projecting laterally and normally in a downward direction from the barrel 1 is a pistol hand grip 2 formed with a cartridge chamber 3 in which an explosive cartridge is adapted to be inserted. The cartridge may be an ordinary power cartridge or may contain soda and Water with a charge of power or carbon tetrachloride may be used. The nature of the cartridge is such that upon striking a precnssion cap in the base of the cartridge the powder charge is ignited and forces the con tents of the cartridge from the firing chamher 3 through a passage 4 leading from the cartridge chamber into the container 1. The pressure thus released into the container forces the fire extinguishing liquid or lluid from the container.

Into the lower end of the cartridge chamher there is inserted a screw plug 5. The lower portion of the hand grip 2 is preferably made detachable along the dividing lin the butt end section 7 of the hand grip being secured in place by screws 8 or the equivalent thereof. The tiring mechanism comprises a firing pin or hammer 9 which is mounted on a pivot 10 within the hand grip 2. The hammer 9 comprises a relatively long arm 11 which extends upwardly within the hand grip The arm 11 is normally held in the position shown in Figure 1 by a translating lever 13 mounted on a pivot 11 within the hand grip 2 and provided at one. end with a cam surface or enlargement 15, the latter lying in the path of a finger operable trigger 16. The trigger 16 is mounted on a longitudinally movable rod 17 operating through one or more guides 17 on the container 1 so that by pulling back on the trigger 16, the latter acts on the cam surface 15 and swings the translating lever 13 thereby compressing a spring 12. lVhen the end of the trigger 16 scrapes over the eani surface 15 the lever 13 being free is pushed forwardly by spring 12 which simultane ously acts on the arm 11 of the hammer 9 thereby exploding the cartridge 3 with the result above described.

In place of the explosive cap and powder charge to be operated by the snap of the firing pin, a container for a compressed gas may be used or a plurality of containers containing soda and acid which, when mixed, will enerate an cxpulsivo pressure in the chamber 6. Such a container or containers may be adapted to be punctured by a sharp point located near a deforumhlc metal seal for the same and the trigger adapted to exerta steady strong force when pulled against a cam or lever arrangement within the handle to press the container and the, perforating point together.

It will be noted that the fire extinguisher is handled in the same manner as an ordinary pistol requiring the use of but one hand for pointing and firing. The expelling forces for the fire extinguishing material is obtained by using the pressure generating effect of a suitable cartridge, thus liberating any expansible gas. It is to be noted that practically the entire firing mechanism is located inside of the pistol hand grip and the device cannot be fired prematurely as the trigger when at rest is locked against ordinary handling by means of the trigger guard which is so shaped as to prevent inadvertent operation of the trigger.

I claim- 1. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a barrel-like container for the lire extinguishing material, a pistol hand grip projecting from said barrel and formed with a cartridge chamber in conmiunication with said barrel to receive apressure generating cartridge, and cartridge-firing means including a trigger located adjacent to said hand grip.

2. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a barrel-like container for the tire extinguishing material, a pistol hand grip pr0- jet-ting from said barrel and formed With a cartridge chamber to receive a pressure generating cartridge and also having a communicating passage between the cartridge chamber and barrel, and cartridge-tiring means embodying a trigger located adjacent to said hand grip.

3. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a barrel-like container for the fire extinguishing material, a pistol hand grip projecting from said barrel and formed with a cartridge chamber in communication with said barrel to receive a pressure generating cartridge, and cartridge-tiring means including a trigger located adjacent to said hand grip and operable by the same hand that holds the hand grip.

4. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a barrel-like container for the fire extinguishing material, a pistol hand grip projecting from said barrel and formed with a cartridge chamber to receive a pressure generating cartridge and also having a communicating passage between the cartridge chamber and barrel, and cartridge-tiring means embodying a trigger located adjacent to said hand grip and operable by the same hand that holds the hand grip.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE WQBURKE, JR. 

